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Kentfield, Calif., (March 10, 2008) – The California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) will fund 22 environmental improvement projects at parks statewide as part of the 11th annual Earth Day Restoration & Cleanup. On Saturday, April 19th, volunteers of all ages are needed to help restore the beauty of California’s treasured state parks. Now more than ever, community participation is critical due to continuing budget cuts and a variety of threats to state parks throughout California.
Statewide, thousands of volunteers each year plant native trees and community gardens, restore trails and wildlife habitats, remove trash and debris from beaches and parklands and make overdue repairs to fences and boardwalks. Since its inception in 1998, the California State Parks Foundation Earth Day Restoration & Cleanup program has had a tremendous impact--60,000 participants have contributed over 250,000 volunteer hours worth more than $5,000,000 in park maintenance and improvements. Including this year’s grants, CSPF, with the support of its sponsors, has awarded more than $963,000 to state parks throughout California.
Volunteers will complete environmental improvement and maintenance projects in honor of Earth Day at 22 state and community parks across California, including 4 sites in Southern California:
Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve – Los Angeles County
Malibu Creek State Park, Los Angeles County
Huntington State Beach – Orange County
Cuyumaca Rancho State Park – San Diego County
“The Foundation’s 11th annual Earth Day Restoration & Cleanup events are a fun and meaningful opportunity for volunteers of all ages to get involved in the stewardship of California’s parklands,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, President of CSPF. “The participation of Californians in the Earth Day program is particularly important this year as we seek to carry the message that our parklands are important to protect and cherish.”
Individuals or groups interested in volunteering on Earth Day can call the Earth Day hotline at 1-888-98-PARKS or register online at www.calparks.org. A complete list of volunteer project sites statewide can be found on the website as well.
The Earth Day projects in southern California are made possible by grants from Chevron, Supervalu and Edison International.
2008 media sponsors in southern California include: KEYT-TV3 Santa Barbara, KTLK-AM 1150, 104.3 MYfm, and The Daily Pilot – Huntington Beach Edition.
California State Parks Foundation Earth Day 2008 Restoration & Cleanup events in Southern California include:
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve
Park Contact: Kelly Rose 310.739.8613 or ecorestoration@verizon.net
Projects: Volunteers will participate in habitat restoration and cleanup of our rare coastal ecosystems in Los Angeles. Volunteers will remove invasive plant species from the sand dunes (coastal strand) ecosystem, and also remove trash from the banks of Ballona Creek and Wetlands.
Time: 9:30– 12:30
Location: From 405 Fwy going south, take 90 Marina Fwy West. Turn left (west) onto Culver Blvd. Follow Culver into Playa del Rey. Park behind Gordon’s Market at 303 Culver Blvd. From 405 going north, Exit Jefferson Blvd, go west on Jefferson. Merges with Culver Blvd. Follow Culver into Playa del Rey. Park behind Gordon’s Market at 303 Culver Blvd. Second parking location at Del Rey Lagoon Park, one block west of main parking lot.
Volunteers: 100
Bring: Wear long pants, sunscreen, sneakers or hiking boots
Malibu Creek State Park
Park Contact: Lindsey Templeton 818.880.0372 or ltempleton@parks.ca.gov
Projects: Creek cleanup, trash pickup, rock pool area cleanup, trail maintenance and graffiti removal
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Location: 101 north, exit Las Virgenes. Make left toward south. Go 2 ½ miles. Pass Mulholland Hwy. Malibu Creek State Park is on the right side.
Volunteers: 100
Bring: Sunscreen
ORANGE COUNTY
Huntington Malibu Creek State Beach
Park Contact: Lon Graham 714.374.0607 or lgraham@parks.ca.gov
Projects: Repair and build chick fence and nesting area in the Least Tern Preserve; beach cleanup.
Time: 8:00am-12:00pm
Location: Magnolia Street and Pacific Coast Highway
Volunteers: 100
Bring: Comfortable shoes, long sleeves, hats, sunscreen, and heavy duty gloves, if you have them.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Cuyumaca Rancho State Park
Park Contact: Michael Curtis 858-278-3280 or cmcurtis@pacbell.net
Projects: Removal of fallen trees from trails (Cuyamaca Rancho burned in the Cedar Fire in 2003. Standing tree trunks are falling on trails at a very high rate this winter) Repair trail tread on Westside and Monument Trails. Plant replacement trees in Green Valley Camp Ground. These would replace trees lost to the Cedar Fire, bark beetles and Oak tree failure. Place protective 2 rail cedar fencing along day use parking lot and Paso Picacho meadow.
Time: 8:00am-12:00pm
Location: From Interstate Hwy 8 go north on Japatul Road (Hwy 79). Stay on Hwy 79 (becomes Cuyamaca Hwy). You enter the park after about 6 miles. Green Valley Campground is about 6 miles north of the south park boundary and Paso Picacho Campground is about 8 miles further north.
Volunteers: 200
Bring: Boots, long pants, long-sleeve shirt, hat, sunscreen, work gloves, a coat and poncho in case of precipitation. Lunch will be provided.
About CSPF
With its 95,000 members, the California State Parks Foundation is the only independent nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing and advocating for California's magnificent state parks. For more information about California's state parks, visit www.calparks.org
Editors, please note: Media interested in attending, covering or volunteering for the California State Parks Foundation Earth Day 2008 Restoration & Cleanup should contact Kristi Brakken at (415) 606-7620 or at stellabluebrakken@comcast.net or Erika Pringsheim-Moore at (925) 284-5069 or at epringsheim@earthlink.net . Images are also available.
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